MML Electrification: progress updates

[38Cto15E]

The closure on 14th July seems very extensive, does this involve OHL work around Kettering North Jct?

 

[59CosG95]

The closure on 14th July seems very extensive, does this involve OHL work around Kettering North Jct?

Don't think so, as all trains are diverting via Corby. The MMLU website states the following with regard to services from Kettering:

Route improvement work will be taking place between Leicester and Market Harborough. Trains will be unable to call at these stations.

If you are travelling Southbound (Towards London)

Your journey will not be affected however train departure times may be different from our printed timetable.

If you are travelling Northbound

Trains will divert around Market Harborough and Leicester with journey times being extended by 40-60 minutes.

If you are travelling to Market Harborough or Leicester you should join a replacement coach service from this station.

 

[InTheEastMids]

Don't think so, as all trains are diverting via Corby. The MMLU website states the following with regard to services from Kettering:

Looks like there's no XC service through Leicester on the same weekend, so suggests works between Syston-Wigston.

 

[59CosG95]

Some updates on the wiring situation around the Souldrop Bank area, where the Fasts & Slows are at different grades to each other.
1) https://flic.kr/p/2gkH6aW - both Fast lines appear to be wired from the nearer Tensorex Portal.
2) https://flic.kr/p/2gkHQLq - the Down Slow is wired from the foreground of the picture towards the "wicket-keeper" (SSA) mast near the rear wagon in the shot.

I don't yet know how far the wires extend each way.

 

[Nick Nation]

Out of interest, does anyone know the kind of structures will be erected at Wellingborough & Kettering station considering they're listed? I also read Network Rail are trimming the lovely canopies at Kettering. Is the same happening at Wellingborough?

Yes unfortunately!

 

[duffield]

Not sure if it's been posted here before, but according to https://midlandmainlineupgrade.co.uk/station/wellingborough/ Platform 4 at Wellingborough is going to be reinstated:



Kettering also getting longer platform.

Interesting. I thought I'd read that P4 at Wellingborough had been canned due to the cost of the bridgework and the P4 line would be used for through trains with stoppers crossing to P3. Good to know they're doing a proper job.

 

[59CosG95]

MML Wiring Progressometer 29.0 (as of 1St of July 2019)
Mileages are from St. Pancras. Unless mentioned otherwise, all reference to the "Fast" side refers to tracks on the western side of the "10-foot" (centre of the track pairs), and the "Slow" side for the tracks on the eastern side.

Bedford (49m 65ch) - Wellingborough (65m 09ch)

• Work to raise Ford End Rd bridge is now complete.
• On the Fast side, behind Bedford P4's fence, masts to support troughing appear to have been erected. These may carry feeder cables or similar.
• Piles have gone in next to the turnback siding at Bedford.
• On the Fast side south of Bromham Rd Bridge, Bedford, at least 9 masts are now up. These masts stretch northwards from Bromham Rd as far as the eye can see, towards the Great Ouse Bridge. A number of masts now have TTC booms - many booms have stovepipes.
  
• Over the pointwork of Bedford North Jct (just north of Bromham Rd Bridge), the majority of masts now have booms (either TTC or Portal). SPS also starting to go up.
• Between Bedford North Jct & Sharnbrook Jct, about 90% of masts are up on both sides of the line.
• Aerial Earth Wire is now up on both sides between Bedford & Oakley, verified in the Clapham area. All four lines are now wired past the former site of Oakley Station as far north as the Tensorex portal between Oakley Viaduct & Highfield Rd. Two-track portals now appear to be up over Oakley Viaduct too (on both lines).
• At Bromham, between the A6 (Great Ouse Way) & Lower Farm Rd (https://goo.gl/maps/rSPFrDAZQ362), 13 Twin Track Cantilevers/TTCs (with booms) are up over the Slow Lines, and about 6/7 over the Fast Lines. This includes the Box Girder bridge over the river Great Ouse.
• At least 9 boomed and dressed (aka. bedanglied) TTC masts have now gone up north of Lower Farm Rd, adjacent to the Down Fast; 2 similar structures are now up adjacent to the Up Slow here too.
• Between Clapham & Oakley, two Anchor Portals (similar to the Tensorex-bearing variety seen and loathed on the GWML) have gone up; the northern one only has a strut on the Fast side, as does the southern one. Both now have Single Insulator "gooseneck" Cantilevers on stovepipes, as well as Tensorex drums. Additionally, an adjacent TTC on the Slow side (1 mast north of the southern Tensorex Portal) lacks a boom.
• Near Milton Ernest (between Earwig Lane Bridge & New Rd), all masts appear to be up.
• Between Radwell Rd & New Rd, a TTC mast has been placed between the Up Fast & Down Slow, as the embankment adjacent to the Up Slow had to be replaced with a gabion retaining wall.
• About 6 TTCs are up immediately to the north of Radwell Viaduct, over the Slow lines (https://goo.gl/maps/r5oXUSSPSAo); 3 more TTCs are up accompanying them over the Fast lines (positioned between the pairs of lines). Another 2 are now up over the Slows south of the viaduct. Masts for 2 portal booms are up at the southern end of the viaduct; both pairs of masts now have booms, completing the portals.
• Roughly 3 or 4 piles (now with boomless TTC masts) are in next to the Down Fast, and another 4 (3 of which have boomed TTC masts) next to the Up Slow just north of Moor End Lane, Radwell (https://goo.gl/maps/cmgWsgyYAo62). South of Moor End Lane (but north of the next bridge to the south), about 5 TTC masts are up (2 of which have booms) adjacent to the Up Slow, with a similar number in adjacent to the Down Fast. South of that bridge, another 2 piles have masts (possibly w/ booms).
• 2 parallel piles are in place (no masts) adjacent to the Fast lines at Radwell; possibly for a portal frame?
• TTCs have now sprouted at the northern end of Sharnbrook Viaduct; these stretch north to the extremities of Sharnbrook Jct itself. Significantly more steelwork up over the Slows than the Fasts.
• Around Sharnbrook Jct (south of Templars Way O/B), at least 4 piles have gone in adjacent to the proposed alignment of the future Up Slow.
• North of Templars Way overbridge, 3 boomed TTC masts are in place on the Slow side, and 1 boomed & dressed TTC mast is in place on the Fast side. South of these, a pair of portal uprights have gone up.
• Almost all masts are now up over the Slow lines, from just north of Park Ln, Sharnbrook (https://goo.gl/maps/df2As431FDr) to Sharnbrook Rd overbridge (southern end of Souldrop bank); the 4-tracking here is not yet complete as signals "WH378" and “LR 8” sit right in the path of the restored Up Slow. Some TTCs have now gone up on the Fasts between these bridges too.
• At Souldrop (between Sharnbrook Rd & Back Lane overbridges), 400m approx of Aerial Earth Wire (AEW) has gone up on the Slow side TTCs. On the Down Slow (to be), a run of C&C has now gone up, continuing south of Sharnbrook Rd (not sure for how far).
• On the Fasts, wires are now up from the 2nd-closest Tensorex portal south of Back Lane Bridge (aka Odell Viaduct), and continue north (not sure for how far though).
• North of Sharnbrook Tunnel, the first 15 piles (13 Down, 1 Up) now bear steelwork. 11 of these are TTCs (all on the Down side); the other 4 will bear SSAs "wicket-keepers" for wire run terminations in Tensorex drums on either side of the running lines.
  South of Bridge WYM-4 (adjacent to the New Inn), 9 of the 17 piles are now in on the Down side of the Slow lines - presumably for the (future) Down Slow at least.
• Between Wymington (https://goo.gl/maps/apZ6wwj9StR2) and Wellingboro', intensive 4-tracking is underway. Near the Google Maps link posted for Wymington, the car park used for the 4-tracking works is due to house a National Grid substation for the electrification; the concrete base has now been laid for the substation.
• In the southern area of the Wymington Deviation, around 9 masts are now up on the Fasts (single cantilever type). North of Souldrop Tunnel, all 7 piles south of the footbridge at 60m56ch (5 down, 2 up) now have masts (4 STCs, 3 TTCs), and another 7 piles (6 of which bear boomed TTC masts) are up to the north.
• A portal (two track) has now gone up on the Fast just south of Wymington Village.
• Near the centre of the "deviation", there are now many more masts up (with cantilevers too) on the Fasts. On the Up Fast side, there is one mast missing near Sharnbrook Summit, just north of the northernmost bridge before the summit. I suspect it might be an Overlap Termination, and as such will be Tensorex.
• On the Slows at the northern end of the "deviation", a number of STCs and TTCs have gone up, with at least two twin track portals also up.
• Masts have now sprung up in large numbers north and south of Station Rd Bridge, Irchester. North of Station Rd, all masts seem to be up over the Fast lines as far as the first footbridge north of there (Knuston Lodge).
• Between Irthlingborough Viaduct & I'borough Rd Bridge (i.e. the Kangaroo Spinney area), at least 10 TTC masts on each side of the line have gone up; about half of those on the Slow side have booms too.
• Irthlingborough Rd Bridge was demolished on Christmas Day 2018 - only the utilities pipe remains. A temporary footbridge has also been erected.

Wellingborough (65m 09ch) - Kettering (72m 01ch)

• Preparations to return the 4th platform (P4?) at Wellingborough to public use have now begun. De-veg work and clearing ground for the new entrance and access road are underway.
• Two piles are in next to each other just north of P1; one of which now bears a boomed TTC mast. The other must be for a backstay.
• Extensive 4-tracking laid (except at points where existing infrastructure has to be moved).
• North of the 4th track buffers at Mill Rd Bridge, all portal booms (bar one Anchor Portal Boom) now appear to be in place.
• North of Finedon Rd Bridge, all portal booms (bar Anchor Portal Booms) are now up.These accompany the TTCs over both pairs of lines near Wellingborough Yards, along with (the unboomed) masts for Anchor Portals.
• TTCs stretch north from Wellingborough Yards over both pairs of lines as far north as the Weetabix factory (north of Burton Latimer).
• At Harrowden Junction, two Anchor Portals have now gone up. The signal gantry still appears to be in situ.
• At Burton Latimer (south of the Weetabix factory), power lines (National Grid) might be due a raise; taller wooden poles have been erected adjacent to the existing ones.
• Almost all (if not all!) masts and booms have now gone up around Kettering Headlands.
• Ground clearance works ongoing at Kettering Yard; the yard will be electrified as part of an EMU stabling facility.
• A number of TTCs have now been erected on the southern approach to Kettering station, roughly parallel to Kettering Yard. So far, these amount to 8 over the Fasts (4 having booms) and 5 (all boomed) over the Slows. At least 1 STC and 2 Anchor Portal uprights are also up next to the Slows.

Kettering (72m 01ch) - Glendon Jct (74m 00ch) - Corby (79m 40ch)

• No activity yet at Kettering station - Platform extensions for the new EMU services are planned, and it is not yet known if canopy works will need to be undertaken.
• On the Fast side, around 6 TTCs are up to the north of the signal gantry at the north end of Kettering station; another is up immediately south of said gantry. On the Slow side, about 4 or 5 TTCs are up roughly parallel to the 6 on the Fasts; one is currently without a boom. Another pile is driven & capped in the 10-foot between the Up Fast & Down Slow.
• Between Kettering station & the A43, a number of piles are now in on the Slow side between the A43 bridge (nr Prologis Park) & the A6003 (Northampton Rd) bridge.
• At Glendon Jct/Kettering North Jct, all piles on the Slow side have now grown TTCs with booms; at least 5 are now bedanglied ("dressed"). A few signal gantries from the BR days have been (or are due to be) removed. Unclear of progress with piling/masts on the Main line north of Glendon Junction.
• A pair of Anchor Boom Portal Masts are now up on the Slow side just short of where the lines to Corby diverge; 1 TTC is between them. No corresponding structures have appeared on the Fast side yet.
• About 5/6 STC masts are up adjacent to each side of the line just north of Glendon Jct, roughly where the Corby Lines diverge from the Mains.
• Pile now in on the Down side near Kettering North Jct.
• 2nd track now in operation, and linespeed raised to 90mph where it was previously 60mph.
• A number of STCs are up over both sides in the Storefield area.
• A good stretch of the overheads are now up between Glendon Jct & the Oakleys (Gt. Oakley/Little Oakley) on the Corby Lines - these include catenary & contact wires.

Glendon Jct (74m 00ch) - Market Harborough (82m 74ch)

• Braybrooke Substation approved. To be located here: (https://goo.gl/maps/fuy1uZeDjdQ2).
• The extent of wiring towards Market Harborough has now been as good as confirmed to reach the station.

Upcoming works:

• 23/6/19: Kettering to Corby replaced by buses all day; done.
• 30/6/19: No early morning trains between Bedford & Kettering. First northbound service from Bedford departs 10:47; first southbound service from Kettering departs 10:45. Done.
• 7/7/19: No early morning trains between Bedford & Kettering. First northbound service 10:47. Kettering to Corby replaced by buses all day.
• 14/7/19: All trains diverted between Kettering & Syston North Jns (i.e. via Corby & Manton Jn). Leicester & Mkt H'boro served by coach from Kettering.
• 21/7/19: Kettering to Corby replaced by buses all day.
• 28/7/19: Kettering to Corby replaced by buses all day.
• 4/8/19: No early morning trains between Bedford & Kettering. First northbound service from Bedford departs 10:54; first southbound service from Kettering departs 10:50. No trains between Kettering & Corby.
• 11/8/19: No early morning trains between Bedford & Kettering. First northbound service from Bedford departs 10:47; first southbound service from Kettering departs 10:50. Kettering to Corby replaced by buses all day.
• 31/8/19 to 1/9/19: No service between Bedford & Kettering.
• 8/9/19: No service between Bedford & Kettering all day. Kettering to Corby still open.
• 29/9/19: No service between Bedford & Kettering all day. Kettering to Corby still open.
• 6/10/19: No service between Bedford & Kettering all day. Kettering to Corby still open.
• 2/11/19 to 3/11/19: No service between Bedford & Kettering.
• 10/11/19: No service between Bedford & Kettering all day. Kettering to Corby still open.
• 16/11/19 to 17/11/19: No service between Bedford & Kettering.
• 1/12/19: No service between Bedford & Kettering all day.
• 21/12/19 to 28/11/19: No service between Bedford & Kettering.

Any updates would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Flying Phil]

In the latest issue of "The Railway Magazine" (July 2019) it is reporting that "Market Harborough will now be the northern limit of 25kV electrification on the MML after the government decided to authorise the installation of wires beyond Grendon (Sorry Glendon!) Junction, near Kettering, to make best use of connections to the National Grid."
Good news.... but I don't think that I have seen anywhere else that the decision has actually been taken though?

 

[swt_passenger]

In the latest issue of "The Railway Magazine" (July 2019) it is reporting that "Market Harborough will now be the northern limit of 25kV electrification on the MML after the government decided to authorise the installation of wires beyond Grendon Junction, near Kettering, to make best use of connections to the National Grid."
Good news.... but I don't think that I have seen anywhere else that the decision has actually been taken though?

Could just be the The Railway Magazine catching up with the earlier story in Modern Railways, even though that turned out to be somewhat ambiguous anyway...

 

[edwin_m]

In the latest issue of "The Railway Magazine" (July 2019) it is reporting that "Market Harborough will now be the northern limit of 25kV electrification on the MML after the government decided to authorise the installation of wires beyond Grendon Junction, near Kettering, to make best use of connections to the National Grid."
Good news.... but I don't think that I have seen anywhere else that the decision has actually been taken though?

I thought Modern Railways had jumped the gun on this one - I still haven't seen an absolute confirmation. Probably waiting for a likely election campaign in the next few months so the local Tory MP can announce with appropriate fanfare.

Incidentally it's Glendon not Grendon (which was somewhere on the Great Central). Not sure if that's an error in the magazine or in the transcription.

 

[Flying Phil]

Sorry it was my error - the second time as well! Now corrected.... But there is a Grendon on the way to Glendon from my direction....

 

[InTheEastMids]

I thought Modern Railways had jumped the gun on this one - I still haven't seen an absolute confirmation. Probably waiting for a likely election campaign in the next few months so the local Tory MP can announce with appropriate fanfare.

Quite possibly. Network Rail has not been permitted by DfT to publish the Enhancements pipeline, of which this is presumably just one project. There's some coverage of this at the New Civil Engineer website.

 

[59CosG95]

The article in question: https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/dft-refuses-publish-rail-enhancements-pipeline-02-07-2019/

 

[Helvellyn]

Out of interest, does anyone know the kind of structures will be erected at Wellingborough & Kettering station considering they're listed? I also read Network Rail are trimming the lovely canopies at Kettering. Is the same happening at Wellingborough?

Not sure if it's been posted here before, but according to https://midlandmainlineupgrade.co.uk/station/wellingborough/ Platform 4 at Wellingborough is going to be reinstated:

The platforms at Wellingborough will be extended Southwards so the gantries over the fast and slow lines will become starting signals at the platform ends.

Whilst the canopy on platform 1 will be cut back the plans show it will be done very sensitively and in fact missing historic detail will be restored. The goods shed will also be brought partly back into use to give access to the Southern extension of platform 1. Shame it couldn't also be used as a waiting shelter or cafe.

Platform 4 will be quite basic by the looks of it with two sixteen person shelters. Can't see any sign in the plans for a new Western entrance though despite the new development taking place - including what looks like drop off points and a bus stop appearing that side! Mind you I wonder if Stagecoach will actually serve the revamped station with more than the rail replacement bus to Bedford and the half-hourly Corby service (that still requires a leisurely five minute walk to the nearest bus stop). No links at all to Rushden/Irchester/Higham Ferrers or even most of Wellingborough itself.

Plans can be found on the Borough Council of Wellingborough website:

• https://publicaccess.wellingborough...ils.do?keyVal=PCU3MURB0D900&activeTab=summary
  
• https://publicaccess.wellingborough...ils.do?keyVal=PCS0AJRB0D900&activeTab=summary
  
• https://publicaccess.wellingborough...ils.do?keyVal=PINALHRB0D900&activeTab=summary
  
• https://publicaccess.wellingborough...ils.do?keyVal=PMTAQNRBKG400&activeTab=summary

 

[59CosG95]

The platforms at Wellingborough will be extended Southwards so the gantries over the fast and slow lines will become starting signals at the platform ends.

Whilst the canopy on platform 1 will be cut back the plans show it will be done very sensitively and in fact missing historic detail will be restored. The goods shed will also be brought partly back into use to give access to the Southern extension of platform 1. Shame it couldn't also be used as a waiting shelter or cafe.

Platform 4 will be quite basic by the looks of it with two sixteen person shelters. Can't see any sign in the plans for a new Western entrance though despite the new development taking place - including what looks like drop off points and a bus stop appearing that side! Mind you I wonder if Stagecoach will actually serve the revamped station with more than the rail replacement bus to Bedford and the half-hourly Corby service (that still requires a leisurely five minute walk to the nearest bus stop). No links at all to Rushden/Irchester/Higham Ferrers or even most of Wellingborough itself.

Plans can be found on the Borough Council of Wellingborough website:

• https://publicaccess.wellingborough...ils.do?keyVal=PCU3MURB0D900&activeTab=summary
  
• https://publicaccess.wellingborough...ils.do?keyVal=PCS0AJRB0D900&activeTab=summary
  
• https://publicaccess.wellingborough...ils.do?keyVal=PINALHRB0D900&activeTab=summary
  
• https://publicaccess.wellingborough...ils.do?keyVal=PMTAQNRBKG400&activeTab=summary

I can recommend the 4th link, followed by "Visualisation 3", "Visualisation 5" & "Visualisation 6" heartily - they give a look at what Wellingborough might look like with OLE in P1/2.

 

[Flying Phil]

Thanks Helvellyn and 59CosG95 for those links. It looks to be a good and sympathetic treatment of the station to create the enhancements and upgrades.

 

[LeeLivery]

The platforms at Wellingborough will be extended Southwards so the gantries over the fast and slow lines will become starting signals at the platform ends.

Whilst the canopy on platform 1 will be cut back the plans show it will be done very sensitively and in fact missing historic detail will be restored. The goods shed will also be brought partly back into use to give access to the Southern extension of platform 1. Shame it couldn't also be used as a waiting shelter or cafe.

Platform 4 will be quite basic by the looks of it with two sixteen person shelters. Can't see any sign in the plans for a new Western entrance though despite the new development taking place - including what looks like drop off points and a bus stop appearing that side! Mind you I wonder if Stagecoach will actually serve the revamped station with more than the rail replacement bus to Bedford and the half-hourly Corby service (that still requires a leisurely five minute walk to the nearest bus stop). No links at all to Rushden/Irchester/Higham Ferrers or even most of Wellingborough itself.

Plans can be found on the Borough Council of Wellingborough website:

• https://publicaccess.wellingborough...ils.do?keyVal=PCU3MURB0D900&activeTab=summary
  
• https://publicaccess.wellingborough...ils.do?keyVal=PCS0AJRB0D900&activeTab=summary
  
• https://publicaccess.wellingborough...ils.do?keyVal=PINALHRB0D900&activeTab=summary
  
• https://publicaccess.wellingborough...ils.do?keyVal=PMTAQNRBKG400&activeTab=summary

Thank you for those links. Very interesting to see the over plans. Also surprised not to see a new plat 4 entrance but I believe it's being funded by the development, so maybe it hasn't come through yet. That said the proposal they released for the new station building on platform 4 years ago was dreadful and not matching the rest of the station at all.

I can recommend the 4th link, followed by "Visualisation 3", "Visualisation 5" & "Visualisation 6" heartily - they give a look at what Wellingborough might look like with OLE in P1/2.

I concur

 

[swt_passenger]

Thanks Helvellyn and 59CosG95 for those links. It looks to be a good and sympathetic treatment of the station to create the enhancements and upgrades.

Interesting that the island platform southward extension will be split level, with short ramps between the two sides. Presumably the new work will be at an optimised height for the stepping distance, so there’ll have to be a fence separating the up and down sides of the island...

 

[richieb1971]

Lower Farm Road Bromham, Yesterday. Looking North

Lower Farm Road, Bromham, Yesterday, Looking Eastwards.

Lower Farm Road, Bromham, Yesterday, Looking South.

Souldrop Road Bridge, Today, Looking North.

Souldrop Road Bridge, Today, Looking South.

Souldrop Road Bridge, Today, Looking at an unactivated LED signal laid out on the ground.

Souldrop Road Bridge, Today, Looking North.

Sharnbrook Junction, Today, Looking South.

A lot of railway men knocking about today. One of them I struck up a conversation with and he told me a lot of things that contradict what I've heard elsewhere.

Some things he told me -

4th track activation in the area to go live Nov-Dec 2019

OHLE test north of Bedford going ahead on July 12th (next week, don't know what that means and neither did he).

Thameslink doing Brighton to Corby with 700 units. He said this when I asked what provision will be made for Bedford terminators if they clog up the Bedford platforms. He said they will run to Corby so it won't be a problem.

When I was at Sharnbrook today I thought the crossover lines should look like this. The trains that crossover here do so at 15mph, with a diamond crossover in a straight line you could pretty much go over the up fast at 60mph.

 

[Helvellyn]

Thameslink doing Brighton to Corby with 700 units. He said this when I asked what provision will be made for Bedford terminators if they clog up the Bedford platforms. He said they will run to Corby so it won't be a problem.

Do Thameslink have enough units for this? Be interesting if they do because it would suggest Wellingborough, Kettering and Corby will see 2 per EMR into St Pancras and X per hour Thameslink through the core. Presumably the latter might offer some cheaper tickets as well.

 

[edwin_m]

If true and not a leg-pull, I would guess it's a short term measure until the 360s can be brought in. I think Thameslink still aren't running the projected full service so they probably have some units to spare. A slower and less comfortable journey isn't going to be popular though!

 

[59CosG95]

View attachment 65284 When I was at Sharnbrook today I thought the crossover lines should look like this. The trains that crossover here do so at 15mph, with a diamond crossover in a straight line you could pretty much go over the up fast at 60mph.

I think that the proposed diagramming of the new "EMR Electrics" services north of Bedford won't be needing the crossover at Sharnbrook to be adjusted during normal day-to-day use. As I understand it, trains are planned to use the Fasts up until the new Wellingborough South Junction, where they'll then transfer over to the Slows.

 

[edwin_m]

I think that the proposed diagramming of the new "EMR Electrics" services north of Bedford won't be needing the crossover at Sharnbrook to be adjusted during normal day-to-day use. As I understand it, trains are planned to use the Fasts up until the new Wellingborough South Junction, where they'll then transfer over to the Slows.

The Modern Railways article a couple of months back said that northbound Corby trains would cross to the Slows at Wellingborough North and southbound would cross to the Fasts at Wellingborough South. So no frequent use of Sharnbrook, or indeed of Wellingborough platform 3.

 

[hwl]

If true and not a leg-pull, I would guess it's a short term measure until the 360s can be brought in. I think Thameslink still aren't running the projected full service so they probably have some units to spare. A slower and less comfortable journey isn't going to be popular though!

The problem is that unit reliability / number in service isn't as high as needed and they are meant to step up the service in December. So not much wriggle room.

The other outstanding issue is all the miffed users from some of the stop between Bedford and Luton who have had a worse service for the last 14 months.

 

[richieb1971]

If 700's are going to Corby, what would be best practice for reversing at Corby? Are the sidings north of the station getting OHLE?

Can Corby handle 12 car units? If so, that would be a drastic improvement for Bedford. Currently EMT are only servicing Corby with 5 car 222's I think.

 

[59CosG95]

If 700's are going to Corby, what would be best practice for reversing at Corby? Are the sidings north of the station getting OHLE?

Can Corby handle 12 car units? If so, that would be a drastic improvement for Bedford. Currently EMT are only servicing Corby with 5 car 222's I think.

Yes - the tracks and sidings north from Rockingham Rd have had foundations and steelwork going up, with the intention of the EMR Electrics using them to reverse/clear the platforms, or for stabling.
All station platforms north of Bedford are due to be extended for 12-car operation as part of the electrification works anyhow.

 

[richieb1971]

I only mentioned Bedford in the context that double reversing into Bedfords Jowitt Sidings would be done less frequent if the 12 car trains started at Corby instead of Bedford. Corby has better provisions to get 12 car trains into Corby station from the sidings than Bedford has getting into trains into Bedford station from the sidings.

Bedford station itself already has 12 car platforms, were done about 8 years ago. Currently on occasion a 8 car train turns up on a rush hour diagram and has peoples faces pushed up against the windows because Bedford simply runs out of 12 car trains.

 

[InTheEastMids]

If true and not a leg-pull, I would guess it's a short term measure until the 360s can be brought in.

Exactly... Unless the MML upgrade scope has been changed. Based on what's set out in the last EDP update from CP5, NR are not required to provide capacity for more than 6 passenger tph North of Bedford, so they won't unless this has changed.
Bedford may not see any additional stopping EMR services anyway, swapping a Nottingham service for a Corby. Getting all the trains through Bedford might even be easier? The current Nottinghamb train also has to be timetabled through potential constraints around Leicester and Trent Junctions. A Corby one doesn't.

NR could also create flexibility by providing for 700s to reverse on the slow lines at Bedford North Junction.

 

[Bald Rick]

I have no info on this, but would be very surprised if the 700s go to Corby. There’s barely enough capacity in the fleet as it is.

 

[Bromley boy]

Thameslink doing Brighton to Corby with 700 units.

Really?

As I understand it they’ve been struggling to get enough drivers route trained up for the full planned TL timetable which, of course, still isn’t operating*. I’d be amazed if they were finding instructors/capacity to do route learning further North than Bedford!

*Once it is up and running I’d imagine the 700s will be very heavily utilised on the existing network so stock might also be an issue.